NYT Connections Hints for August 12, 2026 — Puzzle #1158
Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.
Hints and answers for NYT Connections #1158 on August 12, 2026: how many groups there are, a masked theme for each group, then the four categories one at a time, then all sixteen words — the full solution stays hidden until you reveal it.
1. The shape of the puzzle
There are 4 categories of 4 words each (16 words total).
2. The four themes, masked
Each theme below keeps its word shapes and the first letter of every word:
H _ _ _ O _ _ _ A _ A F _ _ _ _ _ _K _ _ _ _ O _ F _ _ _ _N _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
3. Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1
HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING
Show theme 2
KINDS OF FROGS
Show theme 3
NBC SITCOM SURNAMES
Show theme 4
STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES
NYT Connections answer for August 12, 2026 — puzzle #1158
HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING
HARBOR, NURSE, FOSTER, MAINTAIN
KINDS OF FROGS
TREE, GREEN, BULL, POISON DART
NBC SITCOM SURNAMES
LEMON, BING, SCOTT, BENES
STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES
FINE PRINT, GREAT WHITE, GOODBYE, OKAYAMA
Frequently asked questions
The shape of the puzzle
There are 4 categories of 4 words each (16 words total).
The four themes, masked
Each theme below keeps its word shapes and the first letter of every word:H _ _ _ O _ _ _ A _ A F _ _ _ _ _ _K _ _ _ _ O _ F _ _ _ _N _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELINGShow theme 2KINDS OF FROGSShow theme 3NBC SITCOM SURNAMESShow theme 4STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES
Recent NYT Connections puzzles
- September 20, 2026 — #1197
- September 19, 2026 — #1196
- September 18, 2026 — #1195
- September 17, 2026 — #1194
- September 16, 2026 — #1193
- September 15, 2026 — #1192
- September 14, 2026 — #1191
- September 13, 2026 — #1190
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